Page 88 of Crown of Hearts
“Everness has already faced so much with a rebellion and a new monarch. Do you believe it’s ready for a war too?”
“Is anyone ever truly ready for war?”
“Aries always seems to be.” I turned my gaze over the still waters.
“Won’t our kingdoms at least have a better chance if we stand together?”
“Maybe. Wars cost more than human lives. It will be expensive to fund.”
She squeezed my hand, and I squeezed back. “We’re not doing this for our own sake, Cai. We’re doing this because we have to, for the protection of everyone. Aries is coming whether we want him to or not and we need to protect our kingdoms. If Norrandale falls, Everness is next.”
She was right.
Arieswascoming.
“We should get back to the palace. It’s not safe out here.”
Her face softened and her mouth turned into a slight smile. “Have you forgotten you’re in the presence of the Masked Bandit? You’re safer with me than anywhere else.”
“Of course.” I stood up and held my hands out to her. “Forgive my insolence, my lady.”
Trying to hide a smile, she took my hands, and I pulled her into an embrace.
Chapter 25
Elara
“You need to sleep,” Cai said when we returned to the palace with my guards trailing behind. “You look exhausted.” He was right. I hadn’t had a proper sleep in what felt like for ever. And by the looks of it, neither had he.
“You’re one to talk,” I mumbled. “When was the last time you looked in a mirror?”
Cai chuckled. “Come on, I’ll take you up to your chambers.”
“How very gentlemanly of you,” I replied, eyelids drooping. With my arm linked through Cai’s, I leaned all the more into him. Not that he seemed to mind.
“Well,I amnothing if not a gentleman.” I could practically hear the smile in his voice.
“Humph,” I snorted. “Some gentleman you are. You practically kidnapped me after we’d first met.”
“Are you ever going to let me forget that?”
“I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.”
Cai let out a laugh. It was good to hear him laugh again. We took the stairs in comfortable silence. But with every step, it became more of a battle to keep my eyes open. I faltered, yawning. My guards stood at the end of the hallway as I’d insisted, and they no longer spend their entire shift right outside my doors.
Mostly because I didn’t want them to hear me having nightmares and possibly screaming myself awake.
Cai led me to my chambers. When we reached the doors and he turned to leave, I took hold of his arm.
“Don’t go.” It was barely above a whisper. I didn’t know exactly what I was asking. Only that I didn’t want to be alone.
He lingered on the threshold a moment longer before stepping inside my room and closing the door.
One of the servants had lit a fire, giving the room some light and warmth.
Cai sat on the bed while I made my way to the washroom.
I splashed my face with some cold water and took all the pins out of my hair, longing to slip out of my clothes and let sleep take me. I put on a clean shift and covered it with a nightdress which wasn’t necessary, but the extra layer added some warmth.
